Outcry at BBC local radio cuts threatening Sunday morning shows
BBC local radio religious programmes broadcast on Sunday mornings are threatened by the recent announcement that local services will be cut to make way for regional programmes. At present, all 39 BBC local radio stations broadcast Sunday morning breakfast shows which feature news about religion, reflecting diverse communities, forging links with local organisations and offering worship, reflection and conversation about local events. The sudden news of 139 job cuts and programme hours slashed, has devastated staff and met a universally angry response in a Commons debate on Tuesday. Julia Lopez, minister in the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said the government was concerned and disappointed at the extensive cuts to local radio, which had been able to bring communities together and was a “particular lifeline” to people. There would be “serious questions” if the move to merge some programmes meant local content was not being delivered. She is seeing the BBC Director General and Chairman next week. Meanwhile the Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher, has taken up the campaign, tweeting that his local flagship Sunday morning show needed saving.
Bishop welcomes Sunak’s U-turn on Cop 27 attendance
The Bishop of Norwich has also tweeted on the Prime Minister’s decision to attend the Cop27 environment summit. Days after ruling it out, Rishi Sunak said he would in fact attend the conference, because there was no long-term prosperity without action on climate change and no energy security without investing in renewables. Graham Usher, the lead CofE bishop on the environment, said: “Thank you. This is a welcome decision. It is vital that UK diplomacy and policy continues to recognise that #COP27 is addressing the gravest threat to life, – for all of us but particular for the economically poorest – on our single island planet home”.
CofE restatement of ban on same sex marriage is “not an option”
Church of England bishops are said to acknowledge that simply re-stating the existing ban on same-sex blessings or marriage in church is not an option. The Church Times reports that the outcome of the bishops’ three day meeting to discuss the issue resulted in many believing a change of policy was needed. The discussion was part of the lengthy consultation exercise “Living in Love and Faith”, when all church members were encouraged to discuss their beliefs with each other, to increase understanding and search for common ground. The issue has been deeply divisive with entrenched differences based on interpretation of Bible texts. The bishops meet again in December and will prepare a document for the General Synod to vote on in February. Paul Handley’s report in the Church Times is here >>
Government work on definition of Islamophobia is “dropped”
The Independent’s home affairs editor, Lizzie Dearden, is reporting that the government is dropping work on an official definition of Islamophobia, a process that has not made progress since it was started three years ago. It began when the government failed to adopt the definition proposed by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” This was adopted by Labour and the LibDems but rejected by the government because of its reference to race. It wanted more clarity on “the nature of this bigotry and division”. Imam Qari Asim was appointed to work on the project, but his letters and calls went unanswered and then he was sacked. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has not confirmed the story, only saying it will outline next steps in due course. Tuesday marked the start of Islamophobia Awareness Month.
Census data on religion due on 29 November
National census data on ethnic groups, national identity, language and religion in England and Wales, will be published on Tuesday 29 November. The results of the census undertaken in 2021, have been awaited with interest amid speculation they will show the continuing decline of Christian affiliation and a rise in minority religions and non-religion in Britain. View Professor Linda Woodhead’s lecture on the future of religion in Britain on our YouTube channel here >>
Pope Francis visit to Bahrain indicates Muslim world is “cornerstone of papacy”
Pope Francis is making the first papal trip to Bahrain this week, meeting the small Catholic community there and taking part in a government-sponsored conference on East-West dialogue. But human rights activists are urging him to raise concerns over the treatment of minority Shi-ite activists, after people were stripped of their citizenship and imprisoned. The Associated Press says this is his second trip to a Gulf Arab state and follows a visit to the United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan, which it believes is “evidence that dialogue with the Muslim world has become a major cornerstone of his nearly 10-year papacy”.
Nigeria archbishop calls for end to atrocities in the name of faith
The Anglican Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Archbishop Henry Ndukuba, gave the opening address at the newly created R20 Global Religion forum, which mirrors the G20 and is meeting in Bali, Indonesia. He was invited to represent Africa and used the stage to describe the atrocities inflicted on the Christians and moderate Muslims in his country as “genocide”. He pleaded with the world’s religious leaders to help to end the extremist Islamist attacks in northern and central Nigeria, committed in the name of faith, which have led to death and destruction as people have been driven out of their homes and farms and have lost everything. The archbishop is a controversial figure. He has joined Gafcon, a breakaway Anglican group objecting to same sex relationships and liberal theology and refused to attend the Lambeth conference in the summer along with other bishops from Africa. He told the Forum that the centre of gravity for Christianity is in the global south. Story is here >>
Maidenhead synagogue running a course on the gospel of Matthew
Rabbi Jonathan Romain is running an adult education course on the gospel of Matthew which tells the story of Jesus. He says some people have been shocked and he has come in for criticism, but it is good to know about the country’s religious culture and background. He says it explains what has shaped the way Christians view Jews and reveals much about first century Jewish life. He has praised the people who are attending the classes at Maidenhead synagogue: “It takes religious confidence to go outside one’s own sacred texts and reflects the astonishing advances in inter-faith harmony in recent decades”.
